Wisconsin hospital now has 14 cases of Legionnaires', three deaths

The outbreak has been linked to the hospital water system


A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to UW Hospital’s water system has infected 14 people with the pneumonia-like bacteria. Three have died, according to an article on the Wisconsin State Journal website.
 
One patient remains in the hospital for ongoing treatment of serious health conditions, and 10 patients have been discharged and are doing well.
 
Lab testing of three of the patients has confirmed that their strain of Legionella bacteria is the same strain previously found in the hospital’s water system.
 
Extensive chlorination of the water system, performed last month after the outbreak was discovered, continues to work as anticipated, with tests finding the expected reduction in the bacteria, hospital officials said.
 
 
 
 


December 27, 2018


Topic Area: Infection Control


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